83
/ 100
Objective (60%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
87/100
11 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
Head-to-head
Updated September 2026
Dunlop Sportsmart vs Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV — Compared (September 2026)
Our Relative Score blends 60% objective test data with 40% owner-review signal — so any two tires can be compared even if they were never tested on the same day.
VS
81
/ 100
Objective (60%)
70/100
1 professional test
User signal (40%)
87/100
7 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
VerdictWinner: Dunlop Sportsmart — better dry and wet. It leads or ties in every category we score.
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Category breakdown
5 categories, side by side
Each bar is the Relative Score for that category. Expand a tile to see the test results and owner ratings behind it.
Dry
Score (0–100)
Sportsmart leads by 5
Why this score
| Source | Sportsmart | Diablo Rosso IV |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 87 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 94 | 93 |
Wet
Score (0–100)
Sportsmart leads by 4
Why this score
| Source | Sportsmart | Diablo Rosso IV |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 67 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 76 | 79 |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
Diablo Rosso IV leads by 1
Why this score
| Source | Sportsmart | Diablo Rosso IV |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 85 | 86 |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
Sportsmart leads by 1
Why this score
| Source | Sportsmart | Diablo Rosso IV |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 77 | 76 |
Handling
Score (0–100)
Why this score
| Source | Sportsmart | Diablo Rosso IV |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 91 | 91 |
| DriverReviews owners | – | 92 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Dunlop Sportsmart | Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 83 | 81 |
| Dry | 94 | 89 |
| Wet | 76 | 72 |
| Comfort | 85 | 86 |
| Treadwear | 77 | 76 |
| Handling | 91 | 91 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
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Wet grip and treadwear start at “Important” — the two things buyers rank highest. Move the sliders and the scores update instantly.
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Recomputed
Headline score
83
/ 100
Tire A
81
/ 100
Tire B
From owners
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews across retailers and review sites — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
The Dunlop Sportsmart is widely regarded as a high-performance, confidence-inspiring tire that excels in both dry and wet conditions. While users frequently praise its exceptional grip and predictable handling, longevity remains a polarizing topic, with mileage heavily dependent on riding style and road conditions.
Pros
- Exceptional dry and wet grip that inspires rider confidence
- Predictable feedback and handling, especially when approaching the limit
- Fast warm-up times suitable for both road and occasional track use
- Strong performance stability at high speeds
Cons
- Inconsistent tread life, ranging from 3,000 to 8,000 miles depending on usage
- Stiff N-TEC construction can feel harsh over road imperfections
- Occasional reports of air pressure retention issues on specific rear units
Observations
- Users on high-torque, heavy motorcycles like the Suzuki B-King noted the stiff carcass construction transmits more road feedback, requiring pressure adjustments for optimal feel.
- Commuters reported that the tire maintains even wear patterns despite mixed-use riding, provided pressures are managed correctly.
The Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV is widely regarded as a top-tier hypersport tire that offers significant improvements in feedback, warm-up time, and lean-angle confidence over its predecessors. While users consistently praise its performance in both wet and dry conditions, the consensus notes that these gains come at a premium price point and with potential longevity trade-offs depending on riding style.
Pros
- Exceptional dry and wet grip with rapid warm-up times.
- High level of precision and confidence at deep lean angles.
- Improved feedback and stability compared to previous generations (DR2/DR3).
- Surprisingly good low-speed stability and handling characteristics.
Cons
- Higher price point compared to competitors and previous models.
- Performance consistency may degrade as the tire reaches the end of its service life.
- Potential for increased wear rates under aggressive riding conditions.
Observations
- Users reported significant improvements in resistance to cupping on smaller displacement bikes (e.g., PCX 125) compared to the Diablo Rosso II.
- Aggressive riders utilizing standard sportbike sizes (120/70 and 190/55) report that the tire maintains performance characteristics comparable to more track-focused compounds like the Rosso Corsa II.
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Dunlop Sportsmart | B · Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Summer Max Performance tires | Summer Max Performance tires |
| Vehicle type | Motorcycle | Motorcycle |
Final verdict
Which one should you actually buy?
83
/ 100
Dunlop
81
/ 100
Pirelli
Winner: Dunlop Sportsmart — better dry and wet. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Pick tire A
You want the most grip on dry roads
Dunlop Sportsmart scores 94 vs 89 on dry.
Pick tire A
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Dunlop Sportsmart scores 76 vs 72 on wet.
Tire A · Dunlop Sportsmart
Tire B · Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV
More comparisons
Also compared with
Dunlop Sportsmart also compared with
Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV also compared with
How do we compare tires?
Every category score blends two independent signals. 60% comes from professional tire tests (braking distances, lap times, noise measurements) normalized against the best tire in each test and weighted toward recent tests. 40% comes from thousands of owner reviews collected from retailers and review sites. When a tire has only one of the two, we use what exists and say so.
Community buzz from Reddit and forums is shown for context only — it never changes the score.